2013-07-11_REPORT - M1988044 (2)

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additional grazing impacts. (Note: Cattle were seen on the property for a short while in 2012.) It is important not to return to the condition prior to the construction of the exclosures and the removal of the cattle. Those times devastated the riparian corridor which, although it has largely recovered, is still not in a condition that would allow for intensive grazing now, if ever. The riparian forests came very near destruction as a result of primarily cattle browsing on seedlings. At least one new generation of trees is now developing and another generation is developing locally where sand deposition in early June 2012 occurred as a result of flooding after an intense thunderstorm over Douglas and Elbert Counties. Furthermore, some degree of monitoring should continue all along the stream channel from at least Quincy south to the county line and the edge of the Lowry Range property. Such monitoring will help keep the stream corridor in compliance with the 404 permit as well as provide information on how the corridor is evolving in response to changes caused by peak flows and just normal development on site and upstream. As recent talk has indicated a desire on the part of the Land Board to reintroduce grazing on the property, it is very important in the planning of that action to keep in mind the condition of the riparian corridor and how reintroduced grazing might affect compliance with the terms of the 404 permit. For the uplands, Schmidt's only concern is over the possible impact on land to be reclaimed in the future and recently disturbed land that has not been released from bond. The impact of the reintroduction of grazing on reclaimed lands that have been released from bond under the terms of the Reclamation Permit is a concern of Schmidt's, but it would not have any impact on damaging compliance with the terms of that permit. Once the land is determined to be sufficiently reclaimed and the bond is released for that property, which occurred on many areas in 2012, the Mined Land Reclamation Board no longer has any legal responsibility to insure the final land use selected in the permit continues to be applied. Of course, if reclaimed land is redisturbed for mining purposes then a new permit would be required for that work, but as no viable sand deposits occur under reclaimed land that redisturbance for mining is not likely to be of any future concern. The Land Board is free to use that land as they see fit, so long as no mining occurs. In Schmidt's opinion and long term familiarity with the land, it is likely that limited and well controlled grazing would be appropriate for the uplands. There now appears to be a rather heavy accumulation of duff (plant litter) and this layer of dead vegetation needs to be reduced or at least limited in the amount that is added so what is there can decompose. That duff may now be reducing the ability of seeds to germinate and could eventually create a problem in the nitrogen flow in this grassland. Undoubtedly the best way to accomplish a reset of this duff accumulation would be to set the place on fire, but as that is not likely to occur in a non - attainment area such as this, grazing is the next best option. But it is also Schmidt's opinion that the riparian corridor is really not ready for more than minimal grazing impact. Along much of the stream corridor, outside of the exclosures, woody vegetation is generally not well enough developed to sustain more than a minimal amount of grazing. Shrubs and trees need to become considerably larger, especially from the Big Wetland southward. It would be Schmidt's recommendation that grazing not be allowed in that area at all for at least another three to five years so the mean tree size can reach at least 12 to 15 feet. Otherwise, cattle browsing could seriously damage the recovery of the riparian corridor and the establishment of a healthy new generation of cottonwood to replace the old, senescent forests presently set back from the stream. Many of those large old trees are dying as a result of old age and drought. Without a healthy and robust new generation of trees the riparian forest could change to a shrub dominated vegetation composed mainly of willows. Although that is not a bad change, it has always been the expressed desire of the Land Board to retain the large cottonwood riparian forest. That is why so much effort Status report for 2013 due July 15, 2013 Page 4 of 16